Career Services Blog

Tag: CC

Navigating Pre-Employment Drug Screenings

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Securing a conditional job offer for an internship, co-op, or full-time position is an exciting milestone! However, before you can officially cross the finish line and start your first day, many employers will require you to complete a pre-employment drug screening as part of their hiring policy.

To help you seamlessly navigate this step of the onboarding process, the team at Michigan Tech Career Services has broken down what to expect, industry standards, and how to handle testing logistics from our unique location in the Keweenaw.

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How to Identify and Avoid Job Market Scams

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As you navigate the job market looking for internships, co-ops, or full-time roles, it is vital to stay vigilant. Online scammers frequently pose as legitimate employers in order to defraud students. These scams can be incredibly difficult to identify, but keeping a few key safety practices in mind will help keep your search secure.

At Michigan Tech Career Services, your professional safety is our top priority. Use this guide to recognize the red flags, protect your data, and safeguard your job search.

1. Recognize the Red Flags: When an Offer is “Too Good to Be True”

Employment scams often prey on a student’s need for flexible, high-paying work. Understanding the anatomy of a scam is your first line of defense.

  • The Financial Hook: A legitimate employer will never ask you to pay money upfront, process financial transactions, or purchase equipment with the promise of reimbursement. Watch out for “check-cashing” or “task” scams, where an employer sends you a large check, asks you to deposit it, and requests that you wire or transfer a portion back (via Venmo, cryptocurrency, or gift cards). Once the bank discovers the scammer’s check is fraudulent, you will be held legally and financially responsible for those missing funds.
  • Over-Urgency and Minimal Vetting: Be wary of recruiters who extend an immediate job offer without a formal interview or background check. Scammers often use language that creates a false sense of urgency (“Immediate start,” “Reply within 24 hours”) to bypass your critical thinking.
  • Vague Roles with Sky-High Pay: If a posting promises $500 a week for minimal, unstructured remote work—such as a “virtual assistant” or “data entry clerk”—but completely neglects to mention core job responsibilities, proceed with extreme caution.
  • Text and Chat-Only Hiring: Legitimate organizations require thorough vetting. If the entire interview and hiring process takes place solely via text message, WhatsApp, Telegram, or Google Hangouts, refuse to move forward until you can secure a video or in-person interview.
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Fall 2026 – Pre-Fair Events

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We know that when you travel to campus, every hour counts. If you want to get the absolute most out of your visit, the night before the Career Fair is your golden opportunity to build meaningful connections with students before the main event.

To help you maximize your time on campus, we highly recommend adding these high-impact engagement options to your itinerary when you register for the Career Fair or finalize your travel arrangements.

Enhance Your Presence: Targeted Campus Mixers

As part of your registration process, you can opt-in to receive invitations to our campus Mixers. These are highly targeted, department-hosted networking events designed to connect you with smaller, specific groups of students.

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Fall 2026 Career Fest Schedule

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Are you concerned that students won’t recognize your brand? Career Fest events allow you to highlight the things you make and do!

What kinds of things does your company bring to an industry trade show? Bring those same items to campus to show off to our students in an outdoor, casual event. This “show and tell” format lets students learn what you do or make and what kinds of jobs they can find at your company. Enhance your branding by participating in one or more of these days.

The lineup for Fall 2026 includes:

  • Thu, Sep 4 | $75 | Local Jobs Expo (Employers in Baraga, Houghton, and Keweenaw Counties)
  • Wed, Sep 9 | $550 | Michigan Day (Employers with an office in Michigan)
  • Tue, Sep 15 | $550 | General Industry Day
  • Thu, Sep 17 | $550 | General Industry Day
  • Tue, Sep 22 | $550 | Foundry Fest
  • Wed, Sep 23 | $0 | Aerospace Day (Employers in the Aerospace Industry)
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Local Jobs Expo 2026

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The Local Jobs Expo is designed exclusively for employers with offices located in Baraga, Houghton, and Keweenaw counties. This event highlights the valuable career opportunities available within our region while strengthening connections between local employers, Michigan Tech students, and the surrounding community.

By participating, your organization helps support the growth and retention of talent in the local community and showcases the many ways students can build meaningful careers in the Copper Country.

If your organization is interested in connecting with Michigan Tech students and providing professional development opportunities, we encourage you to participate. Students are eager to learn about local part-time employment, full-time career opportunities, and job shadowing experiences within our community.

This fair will be held on Friday, September 4, 2026. (Registration is part of our Career Fest series of events.)

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How to Complete Your Handshake Profile

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Handshake helps you find job opportunities by matching your profile with roles that align with your interests and experience. The more complete your profile is, the better it can deliver relevant and personalized job recommendations.

Here are the steps to get you started.

Activate Your Account

Simply log in to Handshake using your standard SSO credentials. 

Complete Your Profile

Handshake will guide you through the process of adding details about the types of jobs you’re seeking and the work experience you bring.  For more details about the process, please review the Completing Your Profile in Handshake article.

Profile Picture

You can use the photo booth in Career Services to get a professional profile picture in less than 15 minutes.

Download The Handshake App

You can use Handshake from your desktop, but you might find it more convenient to use it on your mobile device.  The Handshake app is available on both Android and iOS. Learn more about what you can do on the Handshake Mobile app. 

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Tips To Get Ready For Spring Career Fair

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Download Handshake and Set Up Your Profile

Don’t wait until you get to the Career Fair — download Handshake ahead of time! You’ll need the app to find the latest information about the companies at the fair.

Companies want to be able to find candidates by searching through Handshake, too! Make sure your profile makes it easy for them to find you.

  • First, learn more about building a public Handshake profile.
  • Next, optimize your resume. Career Services is happy to help with this — don’t forget to share your resume with us once you have it done.
  • Upload your final resume to your Handshake profile and make it public. 
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Leadership & Rotational Programs

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Leadership Development and Rotational Programs offer mentoring and training across a variety of industries and functional areas, helping participants identify where their skills and interests align best within an organization. These structured programs provide opportunities to rotate through multiple roles and business functions, allowing participants to gain broad experience while developing expertise in a primary functional area. Rotations typically last between one and three years and include focused training and professional development throughout the program.

These programs can be excellent in your early career to provide you broad exposure within a company.

To help make it easy to find these programs, Career Services curates a Handshake Collection with many of these opportunities offered by companies that actively recruit on our campus.

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Make the Most of Your Virtual Career Fair

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A virtual fair isn’t quite the same as walking into the SDC and weaving through rows of booths — but with a little prep, it can be just as impactful. Think of it as your chance to connect with employers without the lines, the noise, or the scramble. Here’s how to set yourself up for success and make the most of the experience.

  1. Strengthen Your Handshake Profile

Companies want to be able to find candidates by searching through Handshake, too! Make sure your profile makes it easy for them to find you. Potential employers search for candidates on Handshake before and during the fair, so think of your profile as your first impression.

  • Build Your Profile: Start with the basics. Handshake has a quick guide to help you create a strong public profile.
  • Polish Your Resume: Update it, refine it, and share it with Career Services once it’s done. We’re more than happy to help if you’d like feedback.
  • Upload Your Resume: Upload your final resume to your Handshake profile and make it public so employers can view it. 
  • Add a Headshot: Need a professional photo? Stop by Career Services during our normal walk-in hours
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Tips To Get Ready For Career Fair

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Hello from Career Services! We are so excited to kick off the Fall 2025 Career Fair — and we know that many of you are anxiously awaiting the chance to speak with more than 350 employers. With just a week to go, we have compiled some tips to help you minimize your stress and maximize your opportunities.

Download Handshake and Set Up Your Profile

Don’t wait until you get to the Career Fair — download Handshake ahead of time! You’ll need the app to find the latest information about the companies at the fair.

Companies want to be able to find candidates by searching through Handshake, too! Make sure your profile makes it easy for them to find you.

  • First, learn more about building a public Handshake profile.
  • Next, optimize your resume. Career Services is happy to help with this — don’t forget to share your resume with us once you have it done.
  • Upload your final resume to your Handshake profile and make it public. 
Continue Reading →